Category Archives: main dish

The word gnocchi is derived from the Italian word nocchio, meaning knots (gnocco is the singular form). In italian cooking gnocchi are small thick dumplings usually made with potato, semolina or wheat flour, egg and cheese. Can be served with a sauce or in soup.

Creamy spinach gnocchi, this velvety deliciousness, is a very easy and quick recipe, served on your table in less than 30 minutes. For a quick lunch or dinner after a long day all you need is this foolproof recipe. It calls for: (serving two people)

500g fresh gnocchi cooked as per package directions

500ml milk or 2 cups (you can use skimmed milk)

200 ml cream, or one cup

2-3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

1 cup fresh spinach (or thawed)

1 tbsp garlic salt

salt to taste

Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions and set aside.

Melt the butter over medium heat then add the flour and cook it to make the roux. Slowly add the milk and cream to the roux and whisk constantly to avoid any lump.

Before the sauce starts to thicken add the garlic salt, salt and spinach and cook for 3-5 minutes until the spinach has wilted and sauce thickened.

Return the gnocchi to the sauce and fold to combine. You can add parmesan cheese to the sauce or simply sprinkle on top. Serve immediately and enjoy heaven in you mouth.

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This is my new lunchtime invention! I heart cooking with shrimps and pairing it with a side filling dish. Today the Spanish rice is the awesome amigo.

If you are fan of the Spanish flavors, i encourage you to give it a try. Vamos to this flavorful quick, easy and foolproof recipe. I am sure you will end up with a staple recipe in your cooking book. I got lots of compliments 🙂

Heat the olive oil and cook the onion until fragrant and translucent. Add the rice and pour the chicken broth. If you prefer vegetable broth go ahead, it will still be as delicious. Mix all and add the remaining ingredients, tomato paste, paprika and garlic salt. Put 200g of the shrimps and keep the other 200g to serve it along with the rice for a nice presentation. When it starts boiling, cover your pot with the lid and let it cook on a very slow flame about 20-25 minutes or until all the liquid is gone.

This rice is a basic one for more other inventions, next time i will try it with beans or chicken. I will keep you posted. Happy cooking 🙂

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I woke up this morning and the first thing on my mind was marmite et ponpon. Back form the summer vacation and before getting overwhelmed by a packed schedule, i wanted to start with by a big fat i love you and i miss you.

I spontaneously chose the last post from the queue (the long queue, the really long queue) to share it with you, without thinking and without planning … All i can say (emotionally driven) i really miss you and miss my space where i share with you what i like to do the most.

Happy to reconnect with you after this long time!

Vegan whole wheat fusilli pasta is my recipe to share with you today. Serving 4, you will need:

one pack of whole wheat fusilli (cooked as per pack instructions, washed and drained)

500b tomato puree

1 big capsicum cut a la julienne

2 cups broccoli

1 1/2 cup fresh mushroom sliced

5-6 small zucchini cut a la julienne

2 big carrots shaved or thinly sliced

1 cup black olive, seedless

3 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper as per your taste

Bring olive oil to heat and sautee the broccoli, carrots and zucchini for 2 minutes then add capsicum (choose the color you want), mushroom and olive to sautee all for another 1-2 minutes.

Pour the puree of tomato and cook the mixture 1 minute after boiling. You don’t want the veggies to be 100% cooked. The little bit of crunchiness will create a beautiful contrast with the pasta. Add salt and pepper as per your taste!

Mix the sauce with the pasta and serve it hot or maybe at room temperature. Bon appetit!

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I heart our Lebanese cuisine for how versatile and wholesome is. Cooking traditional Lebanese is a pleasure, with few ingredients you can have a surprisingly deep flavor dish. Vegan, vegetarian or with meat the same dish can be presented, and each time as a symphony of blended middle eastern flavors.

Today’s dish is vegan heirloom beans, can be done with also pinto beans. Fasoulia (beans) bi zeit (zeit is oil, meaning meatless), when you say bi zeit immediately you think of eating Lebanese bread to substitute rice. Almost all Lebanese vegan dishes can be presented hot or at room temperature, as main dish or even part of mezze but the one thing for sure, is with bread and lots of vegetables. I told you we eat very healthy 🙂

If you are cooking with dried beans, you need to soak them in water for at least 12 hours and better overnight. I am cooking with green ones, thanks for my parents who sent me some overseas.

One cup can serve 2-4 people depending on how you are serving it. I will make 2 cups in this recipe, (almost half a kilo) to serve 4 as a main dish.

2 cups heirloom|pinto beans

4 cups of water

1 big onion finely diced

2-3 garlic cloves crushed

2 tbsp olive oil

1 cup tomato puree plus 2 tbsp tomato paste (for deeper flavor)

salt to taste

In a deep pot fry the onions and garlic in olive oil until tender and fragrant.If you are not fan of garlic you can substitute with one tsp garlic salt for milder flavor. Add tomato puree and tomato paste and keep cooking for 2-3 minutes. Drain out the beans (if you have them soaked) and add it to the mixture. Pour 4 cups of water and let them boil.

When it starts boiling, reduce to low heat, cover the pot and let it simmer for an hour. If the water reduces feel free to add some more. The level of water should be always 2-3cm above the grains.

Serve it hot or at room temperature as per your choice. Eat like a Lebanese with an endless choice of side vegetables like cucumber, tomato, radish, raw or spring onion… or even pickles!

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Shrimp basil linguine is an ultimate comfort food packed with a symphony of flavors. Whether you like to cook or no, i must say it’s a foolproof recipe, so inviting to hit the kitchen and give it a try. Easy and quick, trust me!

Serving 4, you will need:

800g shrimps cooked and deveined

one medium onion finely diced

2 garlic cloves minced or 1 tsp garlic salt

2 tbsp butter

10-15 cherry tomato

a bunch of fresh basil

500 ml heavy cream

salt to taste

linguine cooked as per pack instructions (enough quantity to serve 4)

Cook the shrimp (boil or oven bake), devein and put it aside.

Cook linguine pasta as per pack instructions, drain and put aside.

In a sauce pan, cook onion and garlic in butter until translucent and fragrant. Add tomato and keep sauteeing for 5 mns, then the basil to cook for another 5 mns. Salt is added as per taste. Finally pour the cream and simmer for 10 mns over low heat.

Serve it on a bed of linguine and enjoy an absolute yummy dish!

For garnish, as you see in the pictures i sprinkled a bit of chives. if you are not a fan of, you can skip this step and it won’t affect the outcome. Isn’t it easy and quick? Try it and give me your suggestions. Bon appetit!

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